Flotation machine



May 8,1934- H. L.. vEATcH FLoTA'I-IONMACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed oct.22, 1932 W W h w. Mw m 1w fl@ r m a l f. M L

May 8, 1934 H. l.. vEATcH 1,958,325

FLoTATIoN MACHINE IFiled oct. 22. 1932 s sheets-sheet s Patented May 8,1934 FLOTA'IION MACHINE o Henry L. Veatch, Red River, N. Mex.

Application October 22, 1932, Serial No. 639,101,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the separation or classification of ores andpertains particularly to an improved flotation machine for carrying outthis operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a flotationmachine in which the agitation of the ore takes place under pressure sothat the bubbles formed will remain unbroken until they reach the properpoint in the machine for the discharge of the mineral particles whichthey carry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flotation machine havingan air cushion chamber through which the concentrate carrying bubblespass before being discharged into the launder, in Which chamber thepressure under which the bubbles move is partially reduced.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a flotation machinehaving a long froth travel which effectively classifies or separates outthe gangue from the froth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dotation machineso designed that the amount of agitation given to the material in theagitation chamber can be increased or decreased as desired withoutaiecting the froth and, therefore, without danger of causing thebreaking of the froth bubbles and the loss ofthe mineralmoved from theconcentrate which the froth carries with it.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification,l with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so longas such changes or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a verticalsectional view through the rst of the two cells ofthe machine;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view similar (C1. 20s-17o) to Figure 2through the forward end of the second cell of the machine;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially upon theline 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal 'section taken transversely of the machinesubstantially upon the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

. Figure 6'is a horizontal sectional view taken transversely of themachine substantially upon the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to'the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, thenumerals 1 and 2 indicate the two cells of which the present notationmachine is made up, cell 1 being the primary cell into which the ore isinitially discharged and cell 2 being the secondary cell from which thegangue is discharged after the concentrates have been removed therefrom.

The rst cell, or cell l, is shown in vertical longitudinal section inFigure 2 and as will be readily seen it comprises a bottom 3 which ismounted upon suitable supporting structures 4 to assume a relativelysteep inclination.

This bottom 3 is continuous with the bottom 5 of cell 2 as is clearlyshown. The relatively long side walls 6 combine with the top wall 7 andthe end wall 8 to form a relatively long closed agitation chamber whichis indicated by the numeral 9 and which as shown is relatively shallowat its rear end and of constantly increasing depth toward its forwardend.

At the forward end of the agitation chamber 1 the side walls 6 thereofflare outwardly as indicatedA at 10 and these flared forward wallsextend upwardly a substantial distance beyond the side walls 6 of theagitation chamber to form the wings 11, the back or rear ends of whichare connected by: the vertical wall 12.

Disposed transversely between the wings 11 is an intermediate wall 13which is in spaced parallel relation with the wall 12 and terminates atits lower edge at a point slightly abve the plane of the top wall 7 ofthe agitation chamber and this intermediate wall is connected with theback wall 12 by thehorizontal top wall 14 which also extends across fromone side wing 11 to the other, thus forming the chamber 15 which opensdownwardly toward the forward end of the agitation chamber 9. Thischamber 15 Will be hereinafter referred to as the air cushion chamber.Opening through the top wall 14 of the air cushion chamber is a pipe 16in which is a valve 17 by means of which, the escape of air from thechamber 15 through the pipe may be controlled.

At the rear or small end of the agitation chamber there is disposedtransversely therein upon the bottom 3 and extending from one side wall6 to the other, the vertical baille wall 18, the top edge of which isspaced from the top wall 'I of the chamber so that the ore charge whichis introduced into the pocket 19 formed between it and the back wall 8,may be carried over into the main part of the agitation chamber. 'Iheore is introduced into the pocket 19 through the pipe 20 or through anyother suitable passage and extending through the top wall "I of theagitation chamber in relatively close proximity to the partition 18 is apipe 21 through which air is forced under suitable pressure fordischarge adjacent the bottom 3 in the ore material from which themineral matter is to be separated.

As shown, the wings 11 extend a slight distance beyond the flaredportions 10 of the agitator chamber walls and at the forward ends ofthese walls there is disposed therebetween the forward transverse wall22 from the outer face of which there extends forwardly at a downwardinclination the overflow lip 23 from which the mineral carrying frothows as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In spaced relation with the forward wall 22 is a vertical partition 24which terminates at its lower edge above the bottom 3 and is connectedwith the forward wall 22 bythe web 25 thus forming an area 26 into whichwater may flow from the agitation chamber 9 across the top of thepartition 24. y

The water flowing over this partition into the chamber 26 escapestherefrom through the outlet opening 27 formed through the wall 22 atthe bottom of the chamber and into the second cell as will behereinafter more completely explained.

A second partition 28 is disposed transversely of the agitation chamberat the forward end which is in spaced relation with the partition 24 andextends downwardly from the top edge of the front wall 22 substantiallyhalf way of the depth of the agitation chamber. The top edge of thispartition 28 il connected with the front wall 22 by the top 29 so thatthis partition 28 and the top 29 forms a guard beneath which the waterfrom the agitationl chamber must flow to pass over the partition 24 andover the top of which the concentrates carrying froth must pass toescape from the cell. Within the area enclosed by the guard wall orpartition 28 the portions 10 of the side walls of the agitation chamberare provided with vertical guide grooves 30 between which the ends of avertically shiftable gate 31 slidably position. This gate as shown movesacross that face of the partition 24 which is adjacent the guardpartition 28 and the' vertical movement of the gate is controlled by therod 32 which is swivelly connected at one end thereto and which passesupwardly througha yoke 33 which is mounted upon cross bars 34 carried byand extending across the top edges of the wings-11. The upper end ofthis rod 32 is screw-threaded and passes through and is threadablyconnected with the hub portion of a hand wheel-35, the hub of whichrests upon the yoke 33 on which it turns.

The inner surfaces of the wings 11 are provided with the vertical guidetracks 36 which are in the plane of the wall 22 and between these tracks.are placed the ends of slats 37 which rest edge on edge and thus formanadjustable gate between the wings 11 and over which the mineralconcentrates carrying froth must flow.

The forward wall 22 of the agitation chamber beneath the web 25 has apipe 38 4therethrough which forms a communicating Passase between thechamber 9 and the agitation chamber 39 of the cell 2.

The cell 2 is a substantial duplicate of the cell 1 having the sidewalls 40 and the top wall 41 which with the bottom 5 and the lower partof the wall 22 of cell 1 form the agitation chamber 39. The forward ends42 of the side walls 40 flare outwardly or diverge like the portions 10of the walls 9 and these divergent walls extend upwardly above the top41 to form the'wings 43. An air cushion chamber 44 is formed between thewings 43 and above the top wall 41 of the agitation chamber of this celland the forward wall 45 of the second cell is provided with the bottomoutlets 46 and 47, the upper one of which opens from the lower part ofthe chamber 48 into which the water from the agitation chamber ows overthe partition wall v49 the same as described in connection with cell 1.The gate 50 of this cell and the guard partition 51 are of the sameconstruction as in cell 1 as is the adjustable gate 52. In view of thisfurther description of this portion of the second cell is unnecessary.

The air cushion chamber 44 also has a valve controlled air escape pipe53 like the chamber 15.

Extending through the top wall 41 of the sec-l ond cell is an air pipe54 through which air under the proper pressure is injected into the cellto agitate the mineral contents thereof which have entered from cell 1with the water therefrom through the passages 27 and 38.

In4 the operation of the present flotation-'machine the water level inthe two cells is maintained in the desired height by the adjustment ofthe gates 31 and 50, the level preferably being such that the agitationchambers of the two cells will be `filled completely to the top so thatwater therein beneath the top portion will be under a slight pressure.The ore is introduced into cell 1 through the pipe 20 and this is washedover from the chamber 19 across'the partition 18 by the water into theagitation chamber and is kept in a constant state of agitation -by theair entering through pipe 21.

This constant introduction of air under pressure into the water willresult in the production of an area directly beneath the top of thiscell of water which is over-chargedwith air and which if permitted tocome to the top of the water would form a froth. This introduction ofair in the form of bubbles in the water of the agitation chamber carrieswith it the fine particles of the ore which are disturbed or stirredupby the injected air and -carry the same along through the agitationchamber to the air pressure chamber 15.

Here the concentrates carrying bubbles come to the surface in the formof froth and while the pressure is reduced somewhat the air cushion-against which they press in the air pressure chamber prevents the frothbubbles from losing their charge as they would do if permitted to riseto the surface of the water and enter the open atmosphere. Theconcentrates carrying -froth is passed on beyond the open bottom of thechamber 15 into the area between the wings 11 and the wall 13 of the aircushion chamber from which area it passes over the adjustable gatefalling onto the lip 23 from which it flows into the launder. j

The lighter mineral matter which is not carried out of the first lcellby the froth flows with the water under the guard partition 28 and overthe gate 31 into the chamber 26 from which itpasses into the agitationchamber 39 of the second cell 2, while the heavier matter which theagitated water cannot pick up flows directly from the chamber 9 throughthe passage 38 into the chamber 39. The mineral matter entering thesecond cell 2 is likewise constantly agitated by air entering throughthe pipe 54 and the air bubbles rising through the ,water from this pipepick up particles of ore and pass under pressure toward the forward endof the cell. The same process is repeated in the second cell as in thefirst cell, the mineral carrying froth passing over the adjustable gate54 and the lighter mineral particles not picked up by the froth leavingthe chamber by way of the chamber 48 and pipe 46 while the heaviermatter leaves directly through the lower outletl pipe 47.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that when the air bubblescome to the top of the water in the agitation chamber under pressurethey are forced to pass therefrom into the air cushion chamber where thepressure is less than in the agitation chamber and the pressure upon thefroth is, therefore, reduced. From this chamber the froth passes onbeyondthe air cushion chamber into the open area where the pressure iscompletely relieved and the mineral concentrates carrying bubbles flowfreely therefrom over the adjustable gate.

Due to the long froth travel under pressure in the agitation chambersand the controlled relief of the pressure thereon the froth bubbles donot break and lose their load, therefore, the present machine is moreemcient than machines of other types where the froth rises directly tothe top of the water which is uncovered and where the bubbles break andlose the load which they have picked up and which they carryfrom themachine into the launder.

It will be readily apparent that by adjusting the height of the gates 31and 50 the level of the water in the agitation chambers may be changedand consequently the pressure upon and depth of the froth also and theheight of the froth between the forward portions of the wings 11 and 43and in front of the yair vcushion chambers may also be readilycontrolled by inserting or removing the desirednumber of the slats ofwhich the gates 37 and 52 are made up.

Having thus described the invention, what is` claimed is:-

1. The method of concentrating ores by flotation .which lconsists inagitating the ores and water in a closed chamber which is incompletelyfilled with the water and maintaining the same and the froth developedthereon under pressure, then fiowing the froth through a closed area inwhich the air pressure is lower than that within the closed chamber buthigher than the atmospheric pressure, and finally flowing the froth onthe water into an open receptacle and allowing the same to escapetherefrom while drawing off the water beneath the froth and through aseparate passageway.

2. The method of concentrating ores by iiotation which consists inagitating the ores and water in a closed chamber by the injection of airinto the water and ores and maintaining a pressure in the chamber uponthe froth, the chamber being incompletely filled with water owing thefroth through a closed area having an air pressure lower than that insaid chamber but higher than atmospheric pressure, and finally fiowingoff the froth from the surface of the water outend, the casing beingopen at its top between said chamber and the adjacent end, means forintroducing air and water into the casing adjacent the other end, meansfor controllably releasing air from said chamber, and means for removingthe water and froth from the casing by separate paths.

4. A floatation ore concentrating machine, comprising an elongatedreceptacle having an inclined bottom and closed from one end over themajor portion of its top, means for introducing air under pressure andore into the said closed end of the receptacle, a wall closing the otherend of the receptacle, the receptacle having a top opening adjacent saidlast wall for the discharge of froth, a water outlet adjacent the bottomof said last wall, means preventing water from passing from thereceptacle through said top opening with the froth, an air cushionchamber opening downwardly into the receptacle adjacent the top openingbeneath which the concentrates bearing froth passes, and means forregulating the escape of air from said chamber.

5. A flotation ore concentrating machine, comprising an elongatedagitation chamber having an inclined bottom, side walls and top and endwalls, said top wall terminating at one end short of the end wall ofgreatest height, water outlet means through said last mentioned wall,means for maintaining water at a height in the chamber to form an airspace beneath the top wall, means for introducing ore into the chamberadjacent the other end wall, means for introducing air under pressureinto the chamber adjacent the ore introducing means, an air chamberoverlying the first chamber and having an open side directed downwardlytoward the contents of the agitation chamber, said air chamber havingtwo walls extending transversely of the agitation chamber, one of whichengages said top wall and the other terminating above the water line ofthe agitation' chamber, means for regulating the escape of air from theai'r chamber, and means for flowing off froth over the first mentionedend wall.

6. A fiotation ore concentrating machine comprising an elongated chamberhaving top, bottom, side and end walls, said chamber having its top wallterminating at one end short of the adjacent end wall to provide a topopening, means for injacent the first mentioned end wall for controllingthe ow-ofi' of water from the chamber whereby the -water level ismaintained in spaced relation to the top wall to provide a froth areatherebeneath, a chamber having one open side and disposed over the topopening of the first chamber, one wall of the second mentioned chamberterminating above the water line of the first chamber whereby froth maypass beneath the second mentioned chamber without being submerged in thewater of the first chamber, means for controlling the escape of air fromthe second mentioned chamber, means for regulating the height of thefroth flowing from the first chamber over the -rst mentioned end wall,and means for passing ore from the first mentioned chamber through thesaid rst mentioned wall adjacent the bottom of the latter.

7. A flotation ore concentrating machine, comprising an elongatedagitation chamber having an inclined bottom, side walls and top and endWalls, said top wall terminating at one end short of the end wall ofgreatest height, a guard wall in spaced relation with the said end wallof greatest height and having a horizontal wall connecting its top edgewith the adjacent end wall, a vertically adjustable gate 4disposedbetween the guard wall and the adjacent end wall for controlling thewater level in the chamber-whereby a froth area may be maintainedbetween the water level and the chamber top wall, means for introducingore into the chamber adjacent the other end wall, means for introducingair under pressure adjacent the ore introducing means,'an air f chamberoverlying the rst chamber and-having an open side directed downwardlytoward the contents of the agitation chamber, said air chamber havingV`two walls extending transversely of the agitation chamber one of whichengages the top walland the other terminating above the water line ofthe agitation chamber whereby ore 8. A flotation ore concentratingmachine, comprising an elongated agitation chamber having an inclinedbottom, side walls and top and end walls,

said top wall terminating at one end short of the end wall of greatestheight, a guard wall in spaced relation with the said end wall ofgreatest height and having a horizontal wall connecting its top edgewith the adjacent end wall, a vertically adjustable gate disposedbetween the guard wall and the adjacent end wall for controlling thewater level in the chamber whereby a froth area may be maintainedbetween the water level and the chamber top wall, means for introducingore into the chamber adjacent the other end wall, means for introducingair under pressure adjacent the ore introducing means, an air chamberoverlying the rst chamber and having an open side directed downwardlytoward the contents of the agitation chamber, said air chamber havingtwo walls extending transversely of the agitation.

chamber one of which engages the top wall and the other terminatingabove the water line of the agitation chamber whereby ore bearing frothmay flow from th'e agitation chamber toward the rst mentioned end wallWithout submergence into the water of the agitation chamber, means forregulating the escape of air from the air chamber, the said ore carryingfroth passing from the agitation chamber over the first mentionedendWall thereof, and means for controlling the elevation at'which the frothleaves the rst mentioned chamber, comprising a plurality of separablepanels disposed vertically in edge to edge relation above and in theplane of the rst mentioned end wall and supporting guides for saidpanels whereby the latter may be removably held in posi-

